Do you see Cuonzo's first 15 or last 25?

[BruinVol]

Yeah, I think it's lack of mental toughness that's caused by a huge lack of experience. We play Cuonzo's game for 15 minutes and look great. And then we get lazy and go improv, because we have a bunch of players who are young and not mentally tough. And it looks awful.

I try to stay off this board for a period of time after loses but I found this the best post I have read. I think we have good plans but our guys deviate from that. Now I think CM needs to demand more attention to detail thus keeping the game plan but I see this as a problem of trust that will come in time. How soon that comes I don't know but I don't think we are a far away as a lot of you think.
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[zansdad]

When I coach middle school kids, I stomp my foot alot and broke my clipboard once hitting it so hard with the marker because we were going thru the motions with our press. They went out and kicked butt! So, guys coaching in middle school do show some emotion. Just can't do it all the time. When used correctly, it can work because it shows them you care. Gets them crazy like rabid dogs. Fire em up coach! It can't hurt!

I do the same thing with my kids. It makes me a great father. /sarcasm

 

[Calculon]

First 15 minutes against Duke: Vols by 2 (31-29)
Last 25 minutes against Duke: Duke by 12 (48-36)
Duke wins 77-67

First 15 minutes against Pitt: Vols by 6 (26-20)
Last 25 minutes against Pitt: Pitt by 11 (41-30)
Pitt wins 61-56

First 15 minutes against Charleston: Vols by 13 (28-15)
Next 20 minutes against Charleston: CofC by 23 (48-25)
Charleston wins 71-65.

Just like the football team, except depth isn't the reason. If I had to make a guess, I'd say lack of mental toughness. I'm not sure if we're unable to adjust when our opponent does or whether we just get panicky really quickly when things start going against us. But we can come out of the gate and play with anybody. And we can take it to pretty much nobody for 40 minutes.

Is it a good sign for our coaching that we have a plan that can work? Or is it a bad sign for our coaching that we meltdown so epicly? Given as inexperienced as we are, I think I take any stretches of good basketball as a positive and hope the bad stretches can be fixed as time goes on. But after the last two football seasons, man am I tired of saying that.

The Memphis game was not that way at all. It is too early to know what is going on besides having a bad team.

 

[cncchris33]

Calm down? Didn't know I wasn't calm. My bad, I thought you were saying Martin had leadership issues.

I took your post the same way pl3 did. Sounds like a misunderstanding though.

 

[cncchris33]

The Memphis game was not that way at all. It is too early to know what is going on besides having a bad team.

True, but Memphis is a team that is more talented, just as inexperienced as we are, and poorly coached. So, its not entirely surprising that they would blow the lead they had against us.

 

[volfan411]

First 15 minutes against Duke: Vols by 2 (31-29)
Last 25 minutes against Duke: Duke by 12 (48-36)
Duke wins 77-67

First 15 minutes against Pitt: Vols by 6 (26-20)
Last 25 minutes against Pitt: Pitt by 11 (41-30)
Pitt wins 61-56

First 15 minutes against Charleston: Vols by 13 (28-15)
Next 20 minutes against Charleston: CofC by 23 (48-25)
Charleston wins 71-65.

Just like the football team, except depth isn't the reason. If I had to make a guess, I'd say lack of mental toughness. I'm not sure if we're unable to adjust when our opponent does or whether we just get panicky really quickly when things start going against us. But we can come out of the gate and play with anybody. And we can take it to pretty much nobody for 40 minutes.

Is it a good sign for our coaching that we have a plan that can work? Or is it a bad sign for our coaching that we meltdown so epicly? Given as inexperienced as we are, I think I take any stretches of good basketball as a positive and hope the bad stretches can be fixed as time goes on. But after the last two football seasons, man am I tired of saying that.

Thank you for breaking this down and using logic in doing so.

It is nice to get on a thread and read what is going on rather than the player bashing and excuses in the other ones.

I am not sure of the problem at this point and will reserve judgement on CM at this time and will give him 2 seasons to see what he can do. The one thing I refuse to do is blame the previous coach Cm has been here the better part of 8 months and at this point should have a good understanding of the talent he has and how to scheme accordingly.

 

[Fullfillmer]

It sure would be nice for him to show some emotion, act like he cared, made adjustments, and let players know when they make a mistake. He looks like a middle school coach on the sideline

"make adjustments, and let players know when they make a mistake." Not just him but the whole staff appears to be made up of casual observers. How can they all miss making adjustments and instructing the players.

No offense but I have seen better coaching in Middle School. More reflective of rec league coaching imo. I am very disappointed at what I see from this staff during the game. For all the minutes these guys played in college they should be doing more teaching and adjusting during the game.

 

[Fullfillmer]

Please add Austin Peay - I think you will have 4 examples.

 

[1985Vols]

First 15 minutes against Duke: Vols by 2 (31-29)
Last 25 minutes against Duke: Duke by 12 (48-36)
Duke wins 77-67

First 15 minutes against Pitt: Vols by 6 (26-20)
Last 25 minutes against Pitt: Pitt by 11 (41-30)
Pitt wins 61-56

First 15 minutes against Charleston: Vols by 13 (28-15)
Next 20 minutes against Charleston: CofC by 23 (48-25)
Charleston wins 71-65.

Just like the football team, except depth isn't the reason. If I had to make a guess, I'd say lack of mental toughness. I'm not sure if we're unable to adjust when our opponent does or whether we just get panicky really quickly when things start going against us. But we can come out of the gate and play with anybody. And we can take it to pretty much nobody for 40 minutes.

Is it a good sign for our coaching that we have a plan that can work? Or is it a bad sign for our coaching that we meltdown so epicly? Given as inexperienced as we are, I think I take any stretches of good basketball as a positive and hope the bad stretches can be fixed as time goes on. But after the last two football seasons, man am I tired of saying that.

I think it's a good sign of our coaching that we have been able to hang close with the players he has. Just like in football, we do not yet have the mental toughness to win games when they get close. I think we will develop that over time but remember, this is the first year most of these players have played any real minutes at the collegiate level (except for Tatum). GIive it some time.

 

[tnlacombe]

It comes down to coaching. Plain and simple

Right back to being the bottom dwellers that we were before Coach Pearl pumped life into the program:banghead2:

 

[supervol01]

Black Buzz

Racist IMO

 

[lbrjohn3]

Excuses, excuses, I am soooooo tired of people trying to cover up bad coaching. How many times did we go to Maymon in the post in the second half????? I think you will find the answer at zero. Peddle the kool-aide elsewhere, we are getting what we paid for in both FB and BB. Those coaches were making what they were worth before they came to UT. For Martin that was roughly 125,000 and for Dooley 400,000.

I blame not getting the ball to Maynom as much on the players as I do CM

 

[Incipient]

The Memphis game was not that way at all. It is too early to know what is going on besides having a bad team.

No, it wasn't. Neither was the Oakland game. But when you've seen the exact same thing happen at least three times (four if you want to throw in Austin Peay, which was just as obvious, but too depressing to add), there's something to it. Jumping out to early leads in four of your six losses is unusual, and significant.

True, but Memphis is a team that is more talented, just as inexperienced as we are, and poorly coached. So, its not entirely surprising that they would blow the lead they had against us.

Yep

 

[Incipient]

Please add Austin Peay - I think you will have 4 examples.

This one was too depressing to add, but it is a 4th one (although the breakdown is slightly different). Since you asked. . .

First 18 against Austin Peay: Vols by 10 (36-26)
Last 22 against Austin Peay: Peay by 14 (48-34)
Peay wins 74-70

 

[Incipient]

Thank you for breaking this down and using logic in doing so.

It is nice to get on a thread and read what is going on rather than the player bashing and excuses in the other ones.

I am not sure of the problem at this point and will reserve judgement on CM at this time and will give him 2 seasons to see what he can do. The one thing I refuse to do is blame the previous coach Cm has been here the better part of 8 months and at this point should have a good understanding of the talent he has and how to scheme accordingly.

I wonder if sometimes we have too high of expectations on what a coach can do with time to scheme. Obviously, Coach Martin has had time to install a scheme that's successful for the first part of the game. And he's done so. But time to instill discipline and mental toughness in the team? I don't know, how long does that take? We sure don't have it yet.

 

[TOP]

We have one senior getting minutes on this team. And he absolutely sucks.

The close games will help out in the long run.

Also, having a joke at PG doesn't help late.

Kentucky has like all freshman and they still win.

Florida had like all sophomores when they won a championship.

Obviously the players on this team aren't even close to their talent level but Austin Peay? Surely this team is more talented than a team from a crap conference that started 0-9. Their only win prior to UT was against Ark St in OT. There is absolutely no way you can use the inexperience of Golden 4*, McRae 4*, Tatum 4*, Maymon 4* and Hall 4* as a legitimate excuse to lose to a team as bad as Austin Peay. Should be more talented than Charleston and Oakland too and I could accept splitting with them but by the time you lose to 3 small schools in the span of 4 games, it's more than just inexperience and a flawed roster. Calipari would have run those teams off the floor with Tennessee's roster imo. Granted, Calipari is a good coach but still...

I'll give Cuonzo this season to get things in place but if this team is still losing to half of the small schools they play next season, there's a problem. Everyone but Tatum returns.

 

[Incipient]

Kentucky has like all freshman and they still win.

Florida had like all sophomores when they won a championship.

Obviously the players on this team aren't even close to their talent level but Austin Peay? Surely this team is more talented than a team from a crap conference that started 0-9. Their only win prior to UT was against Ark St in OT. There is absolutely no way you can use the inexperience of Golden 4*, McRae 4*, Tatum 4*, Maymon 4* and Hall 4* as a legitimate excuse to lose to a team as bad as Austin Peay. Should be more talented than Charleston and Oakland too and I could accept splitting with them but by the time you lose to 3 small schools in the span of 4 games, it's more than just inexperience and a flawed roster. Calipari would have run those teams off the floor with Tennessee's roster imo. Granted, Calipari is a good coach but still...

I'll give Cuonzo this season to get things in place but if this team is still losing to half of the small schools they play next season, there's a problem. Everyone but Tatum returns.

Remember last year how we lost to Oakland, Charlotte, and College of Charleston (and barely escaped UT-Martin) in a two week span? With a more talented roster? Was that because we had a terrible coach?

I do agree with your last bit--if this is still happening next season, there's a problem.

 

[dlw4n]

This team loses 75% of their scoring and rebounding, and is left with very little experience. Everyone KNEW this team was going to take a pounding this year. The very fact that we were in these games (with the exception of Austin Peay, who we should have killed) speaks to good coaching of not so good players.

I'm not so sure Coach K himself would be doing a lot better with this team right now. Yes, coaching is vital, but if you don't have the players, then you don't have the players.

I'm so sick of everyone's "Gotta have everything I want RIGHT NOW" mentality. Tennessee basketball is a mess. Martin inherited a complete disaster. Only an individual with a complete lack of intelligence would them blame the coach 8 games in for the team looking like a complete disaster. What the hell do you people want?!

 

[zjcvols]

Kentucky has like all freshman and they still win.

Florida had like all sophomores when they won a championship.

Obviously the players on this team aren't even close to their talent level but Austin Peay? Surely this team is more talented than a team from a crap conference that started 0-9. Their only win prior to UT was against Ark St in OT. There is absolutely no way you can use the inexperience of Golden 4*, McRae 4*, Tatum 4*, Maymon 4* and Hall 4* as a legitimate excuse to lose to a team as bad as Austin Peay. Should be more talented than Charleston and Oakland too and I could accept splitting with them but by the time you lose to 3 small schools in the span of 4 games, it's more than just inexperience and a flawed roster. Calipari would have run those teams off the floor with Tennessee's roster imo. Granted, Calipari is a good coach but still...

I'll give Cuonzo this season to get things in place but if this team is still losing to half of the small schools they play next season, there's a problem. Everyone but Tatum returns.

Didn't use their inexperience as an excuse for Austin Peay. Actually, I started a thread called "inexcusable" about the Austin Peay loss.

 

[SCvol333]

This team loses 75% of their scoring and rebounding, and is left with very little experience. Everyone KNEW this team was going to take a pounding this year. The very fact that we were in these games (with the exception of Austin Peay, who we should have killed) speaks to good coaching of not so good players.

I'm not so sure Coach K himself would be doing a lot better with this team right now. Yes, coaching is vital, but if you don't have the players, then you don't have the players.

I'm so sick of everyone's "Gotta have everything I want RIGHT NOW" mentality. Tennessee basketball is a mess. Martin inherited a complete disaster. Only an individual with a complete lack of intelligence would them blame the coach 8 games in for the team looking like a complete disaster. What the hell do you people want?!

I think beating Austin Peay, CoC, and Oakland is not too much to ask - being better than 3-6 is not too much to ask - i didn't expect to win the SEC, but this is ridiculous

CCM is the coach b/c no top candidate would take the job since it looked like we were going on probation - now that we aren't expect him to be gone after next year and possibly this year if the wheels really fall off

bball is not football and it does not take that much time to install schemes, develop players, etc - you can see pretty quick now if a coach has what it takes or whether you need to move on - id give him one more year but w/o significant improvement i'd say it is time to move on

anyone know if dave hart hired CCM or was he hired prior to Hart getting the job - i thought it was prior but couldnt remember

 

[zjcvols]

I think beating Austin Peay, CoC, and Oakland is not too much to ask - being better than 3-6 is not too much to ask - i didn't expect to win the SEC, but this is ridiculous

CCM is the coach b/c no top candidate would take the job since it looked like we were going on probation - now that we aren't expect him to be gone after next year and possibly this year if the wheels really fall off

bball is not football and it does not take that much time to install schemes, develop players, etc - you can see pretty quick now if a coach has what it takes or whether you need to move on - id give him one more year but w/o significant improvement i'd say it is time to move on

anyone know if dave hart hired CCM or was he hired prior to Hart getting the job - i thought it was prior but couldnt remember

Honest question. This team is less talented than last year's team. Bruce lost to both those teams, at home. CoC is better, and while Oakland isn't as good as it was, it's still a tough team to play. So now do you think it's too much to ask?

I agree about the AP game.

 

[SCvol333]

Honest question. This team is less talented than last year's team. Bruce lost to both those teams, at home. CoC is better, and while Oakland isn't as good as it was, it's still a tough team to play. So now do you think it's too much to ask?

I agree about the AP game.

No, still don't - just b/c Pearl lost a couple inexcusable games doesnt mean we should give the next coach a pass right?

i would disagree that CoC is better - they lost Andrew Goudelock who was a stud and their top 3 players (65% of total offense)

 

[volfan411]

I wonder if sometimes we have too high of expectations on what a coach can do with time to scheme. Obviously, Coach Martin has had time to install a scheme that's successful for the first part of the game. And he's done so. But time to instill discipline and mental toughness in the team? I don't know, how long does that take? We sure don't have it yet.

I agree this team is as undisciplined as any team I have ever watched and getting them to play disciplined is going to take time and also getting players on the bench behind them so there is a threat of losing playing time for undisciplined play.

 

[2ironVol]

Excuses, excuses, I am soooooo tired of people trying to cover up bad coaching. How many times did we go to Maymon in the post in the second half????? I think you will find the answer at zero. Peddle the kool-aide elsewhere, we are getting what we paid for in both FB and BB. Those coaches were making what they were worth before they came to UT. For Martin that was roughly 125,000 and for Dooley 400,000.

I have come to the conclusion you have little or no clue as to what you are talking about. Last night's loss wasn't due to bad coaching. Of course you have a constitutional right to your opinion, regardless of how ill-conceived it is

 

[tnvols72]

I think beating Austin Peay, CoC, and Oakland is not too much to ask - being better than 3-6 is not too much to ask - i didn't expect to win the SEC, but this is ridiculous

CCM is the coach b/c no top candidate would take the job since it looked like we were going on probation - now that we aren't expect him to be gone after next year and possibly this year if the wheels really fall off

bball is not football and it does not take that much time to install schemes, develop players, etc - you can see pretty quick now if a coach has what it takes or whether you need to move on - id give him one more year but w/o significant improvement i'd say it is time to move on

anyone know if dave hart hired CCM or was he hired prior to Hart getting the job - i thought it was prior but couldnt remember

Dave Hart didnt hire CCM,He would of had more sense.